BRICS countries are advancing cooperation on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), global value chains and logistics as the bloc seeks to deepen economic integration and strengthen intra-bloc trade.
The initiatives were among the key economic cooperation outcomes recorded under India’s 2026 chairmanship of BRICS, according to Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary of Economic Relations at India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Speaking to journalists on the outcomes of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Dalela said the economic cooperation pillar had focused on developing practical mechanisms to strengthen commercial ties among member countries.
He identified the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal, cooperation on global value chains and the BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework as some of the major initiatives developed during India’s chairmanship.
The initiatives form part of more than 50 practical outcomes recorded across four priority areas of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
According to Dalela, India’s objective was to move BRICS cooperation towards more practical and people-centred outcomes, with greater emphasis on initiatives that can support economic activity across member countries.
The focus on MSMEs is significant because smaller businesses constitute a large part of economic activity across emerging markets but frequently face barriers to participating in international trade.
These barriers include limited access to finance, technology, export markets, market information and efficient logistics.
The BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal is therefore expected to provide a platform for greater interaction and cooperation among businesses within the bloc, while the global value chain initiative could support stronger links between smaller enterprises and larger domestic and international production networks.
For BRICS economies seeking to increase trade among themselves, improving MSME participation could broaden the base of businesses benefiting from cross-border commercial opportunities.
The logistics component is equally important, particularly as higher transportation costs, fragmented supply networks and inefficient movement of goods can reduce the competitiveness of businesses engaged in international trade.
The proposed BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework is aimed at strengthening cooperation in this area and improving the resilience of supply networks connecting member economies.
Beyond trade and logistics, India’s chairmanship also advanced initiatives targeting innovation, startups and scientific cooperation.
Dalela cited the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and BRICS Startup Incubator Network among the initiatives developed during the year.
The grouping also advanced the BRICS Science and Research Repository as part of efforts to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation.
Dalela said cooperation in infrastructure, technology, entrepreneurship and sustainable development had also been strengthened.
The broader approach reflects BRICS’ growing focus on economic cooperation beyond conventional trade, particularly in areas such as technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
The latest initiatives come as BRICS continues to expand its economic footprint and seek stronger commercial relationships among member and partner countries.
For businesses, deeper cooperation on supply chains and global value chains could create opportunities to access new markets, suppliers, technology and investment within the wider BRICS ecosystem.
However, the economic value of the initiatives will ultimately depend on implementation, particularly whether the frameworks translate into lower trade and logistics costs, easier market access and stronger investment flows.
For Nigeria, which became a BRICS partner country in 2025, developments around MSMEs, logistics, technology, and value-chain integration could support efforts to expand non-oil exports and connect Nigerian businesses with larger emerging-market economies.
The opportunity, however, will depend on Nigeria’s ability to improve productive capacity, logistics infrastructure, trade facilitation and access to finance for businesses seeking to participate in cross-border markets.
Dalela said the initiatives developed during India’s chairmanship would provide a foundation for deeper BRICS cooperation beyond 2026.
The development signals a broader attempt by the bloc to translate its expanding economic influence into practical mechanisms for trade, investment, entrepreneurship and production cooperation.
